We run you through the cheapest mobile phone plans plans in our database of more than 30 mobile providers. But if you'd prefer to get it over with, these are currently the most popular plans in our database for $20 or under:
Cheap mobile plans in Australia
8 min readIn this cheap mobile plans guide:
\\ Why you can trust Reviews.org Australia
At Reviews.org Australia, we take telco plans very seriously, as does our sister site, WhistleOut.com.au. Our team updates plans from around 30 mobile providers daily to make sure you get up-to-date and reliable information, all in one spot. We compare standard pricing, deals, plan inclusions, and more, regardless of whether we have a commercial relationship with a given provider – because we're committed to helping you find a plan you'll love.
In this guide, we're looking at the cheapest mobile phone plans from among the more than 30 mobile providers we track. We'll cover plans in different sections based on intro deals, long-term pricing, eSIM plans, and cheap phone plans with more or even 'unlimited' data. All the plans we'll cover include unlimited talk or text and are postpaid or 'monthly' prepaid plans (28-day, 30-day, or monthly recharges).
Cheapest long-term cost
Cheap mobile plans, ranked by total spend over the first 24 months.
Right now, the cheapest mobile plan in our database over the first two years is from Spintel. This plan is $14 per month for the first six for new customers, with standard pricing of $22 per month. The good news is that even the standard pricing is pretty cheap for 25GB, assuming you need that much data.
While there is Optus 5G connectivity, speeds are capped at 100Mbps, which is usually reserved for 4G plans. That said, 100Mbps is still about as fast as most things you'd need to do on a phone, so it hopefully shouldn't detract from your experience too much.
Ultimately, this is a pretty straightforward offering with no bells and whistles, which is probably why it can be so cheap.
The basics:
- Intro price: $14 per month for the first six months (new customers only)
- Ongoing price: $22
- Total cost over first 24 months: $480
- Data: 25GB
- Mobile network: Optus 5G, capped at 100Mbps
- International calls: None included
- Roaming: PAYG roaming
Pros
Six month intro deal
Cheap standard price for this much data
Unlimited data rollover
Optus 5G coverage in select areas 
Cons
Deal is for new customers only
Capped at 100Mbps
PAYG roaming
No international call or roaming inclusions
No data banking or rollover If this plan doesn't suit your needs, here's a broader look at the cheapest phone plans in our database, ranked by total spend over the first 24 months after signing up:
Expert Advice: Go small or pay more
"The cheapest mobile plans are often found with smaller brands which, due to their low running costs, can offer better value than the Big Three. And there are no lock-in contracts, so feel free to sign up for an introductory offer then jump ship to another carrier before the regular price kicks in."
Digital Content Editor
Change providers and save
Even though it might sound like a 'gotcha', consider basing your choice on intro discounts, rather than long-term prices. Many providers offer new customers significant discounts for an initial period, sometimes as much as 50% off. With no lock-in contracts, you can swap providers before the discount ends and repeat the process, never once paying full price. But we know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, which is why we've included 24-month comparisons for longer-term pricing.
Cheapest intro pricing
No contracts means you can keep hopping between cheap intro deals.
Moose Mobile has the cheapest intro pricing in our database right now, when looking at introductory discounts that last at least six months after signing up. The Moose 26.80 SIM Only plan normally comes with 27GB per month for $26.80, but new registrations get 13GB bonus data (for a total of 40GB) and a $14.50 discount per month for the first six months. This is a lot of data, coupled with very cheap pricing.
Once the deal ends, the standard cost of $26.80 is also fairly competitive for 27GB, but is obviously a fair jump up in price. The good news is there's no contract, nor are there fees for signing up or cancelling, so you can switch to a cheap mobile plan from a different provider without ever paying full cost.
The plan also includes Optus 5G access, but is limited to 100Mbps. While this speed is generally reserved for 4G plans, it's far more than you'd need for the vast majority of phone usage. Plus, the 5G connectivity should still help you maintain more robust coverage in supported areas.
The basics:
- Intro price: $12.40 per month for six months
- Ongoing price: $26.80, after deal ends
- Total cost over first 24 months: $556.80
- Data: 40GB for first six months, then 27GB ongoing
- Mobile network: Optus 5G, capped at 100Mbps
- International calls: None included
- Roaming: PAYG roaming, with a refundable $200 in credit paid upfront before you travel
Pros
Big discount and bonus data for the first six months for new registrations
200GB data banking
Post-discount pricing is still competitive for 27GB
No lock-in contract Cons
Price roughly doubles after deal ends
Expensive PAYG roaming active by default
No international call or SMS inclusions If this plan doesn't suit your needs, there are several providers with cheap mobile plans for under $15. Here's a look at the cheapest phone plans in our database, ranked by introductory price for the first six months:
Cheap mobile plans with eSIM
Cheap eSIM plans ranked by their total cost over the first two years.
SpinTel has our database's cheapest eSIM plan right now, when looking at total cost over the first 24 months after signing up. The telco's $22 Mobile Plan is discounted by $8 per month firs the first six months for new customers, after which it's (as the name implies) $22 per month. While that ongoing price mightn't sound like the cheapest mobile plan around, it's very good for the 25GB the plan provides.
The plan operates over the Optus 4G network and uses postpaid monthly charges (no prepaid recharges here) with no contract. Other than the deal terms, there's not much else to know. This is a no-frills product, as evidenced by its price tag.
The basics:
- Intro price: $14 per month for six months for new customers
- Ongoing price: $22 per month
- Total cost over first 24 months: $480
- Data: 25GB
- Mobile network: Optus 5G, capped at 100Mbps
- International calls: None included
- Roaming: PAYG roaming
Pros
Six-month discount for new customers
Good amount of data
Ongoing price is cheap for 25GB
5G connectivity Cons
No included roaming or international calls
100Mbps speed cap
Price increases after six months
Deal for new customers only If this plan doesn't work for you, here's a look at a wider range of cheap eSIM plans in our database, ranked by the total cost over the first two years after signing up:
Expert Advice: Never pay full price
"If you're not on a contract, changing providers a couple of times per year can ensure you always have the cheapest mobile plan for your needs. Most providers offer introductory discounts, which can be as much as 50% off. This can work out to hundreds in savings per year, depending on your plan. Given finding a new plan and signing up can take well under an hour, that's a pretty good return on your time."
Editor-at-large
Cheap mobile plans with more data
Our database's cheapest plans with at least 30GB.
If you need a bit more data, Kogan Mobile has our database's cheapest mobile plan over the first 24 months with at least 30GB of data. This plan is $25 per monthly recharge for 40GB, plus you get a $12 discount for the first three months if you sign up before September 28.
It operates over the Vodafone 4G network and includes up to 200GB data rollover, though it all disappears if you fail to recharge at the end of your current renewal period.
The basics:
- Intro price: $12 per month for three months
- Ongoing price: $25 per monthly recharge, after deal ends
- Total cost over first 24 months: $561
- Data: 60GB for the first three months, then 40GB ongoing
- Mobile network: Vodafone 4G
- International calls: None included
- Roaming: PAYG roaming
Pros
Big on data (more than most people need)
$13 discount for the first three months
No lock-in contract
Monthly recharge period (as opposed to 28 or 30 days)
200GB data rollover Cons
No included roaming or international calls
Limited to 4G
Intro deal is shorter than usual We have plenty more cheap mobile plans with decent data in our database. Here's a look at the cheapest plans with at least 30GB, ranked by price over the first six months:
Cheap mobile plans with 'unlimited' data
'Unlimited' data always comes with a caveat.
In Australia, mobile plans with 'unlimited' data might not be what you assume. Also called 'infinite' or 'endless' data, most offer full internet speed until you hit your monthly limit, after which your connection is slowed to anywhere between 2Mbps and a crawling 256Kbps, depending on the provider. This has the benefit of avoiding unexpected overage fees if you go past your data allowance, but might not be what you're looking for in an unlimited data mobile plan.
The only, and therefore cheapest, mobile plan with unlimited data is the Unlimited Mobile Plan from felix mobile.
This plan does really give you unlimited data in terms of how much you can use – but it's all speed capped at 20Mbps. While 20Mbps is still fast enough to stream HD video and do just about any other phone-y things you have in mind, downloading large files is going to be a drag.
This plan currently offers 50% off for the first three months, after which the ongoing price is $40 per month.
- Intro price: $20 per month for three months
- Ongoing price: $40 per month, after deal ends
- Total spend over first 24 months: $900
- Data: Unlimited, all capped at 20Mbps
- Mobile network: Vodafone 5G – capped at 20Mbps
- International calls: Add for $5 per month
- Roaming: None included
Pros
Decent intro deal, if short-lived
Add unlimited international calls to 40 over countries for $5/mth
5G connectivity (still useful for coverage, despite speed cap)
Felix is a certified carbon neutral service Cons
All connectivity limited 20Mbps
No roaming inclusions If you'd like to check out plans from mobile providers that offer 'endless' data – i.e. no overage fees – here's a look at the cheapest mobile plans in our database from each of them, ranked by intro price for the first six months:
Pros and cons of cheap mobile plans
You usually get what you pay for, which is probably all you need.
The cheapest mobile plans are offered by network resellers, also called 'Mobile Virtual Network Operators' (MVNOs). MVNOs make up pretty much every mobile provider that isn't Optus, Vodafone or Telstra. These brands can afford to keep costs down because they have fewer overheads like large marketing budgets, network maintenance or brick-and-mortar storefronts.
They also don't include some of the added plan features you'll see from the Big Three, such as discounts on streaming services, included international calls, roaming, and uncapped 5G speeds. But despite this, mobile coverage is often the same, except for most Telstra resellers. Telstra MVNOs operate over the Telstra 'Wholesale' network, as opposed to the full Telstra network.
We'll dive into all of this and more below, so keep scrolling if you want to learn the ins and outs of cheap mobile plans in Australia.
Pros
Some of the cheapest mobile plans around
Lots of options and deals to choose from
SIM-only and prepaid plans make it easy to change providers
Introductory offers are a good way to save even more
Data banking is common (though not universal) Cons
Many lack extra inclusions like international calls and roaming
Might not include 5G
Can include speed caps – usually 100Mbps or 150Mbps
Telstra MVNOs have notably less 5G coverage than the full Telstra network Which network offers the best coverage?
Of the three mobile networks, Telstra's has the widest coverage, followed by Optus and then Vodafone. But of course, it's not quite that simple.
Optus and Vodafone grant full network access to their MVNOs, though it's up to the MVNO to purchase 4G or 5G access.
But Telstra limits its resellers to the Telstra 'Wholesale' network. The Wholesale network still has the second-largest 4G footprint in Australia (just), but a much smaller 5G footprint. The only MVNO to operate over the full Telstra network is Boost Mobile.
Here's a quick look at mobile network coverage in Australia:
Aside from Telstra, Boost Mobile is the only provider that operates on the full Telstra network.
4G and 5G on cheap mobile plans
Almost all MVNOs offer 5G in some form, but usually only for their pricier options. When looking at the cheapest phone plans, you're more likely to get 4G access only, limited to 100Mbps (but, given this is the same download cap as an NBN 100 plan, it's really not so bad).
You'll also find most network resellers place speed caps on their 5G plans. The most common is 150Mbps, but some allow up to 250Mbps for their most-expensive options.
Given 4G can be faster than an NBN 50 plan – which is still the most popular type of home internet in Australia – try not to think of speed as a deal breaker here. The bigger concern is how it might affect your coverage.
Depending on your area, your telco might have cannibalised some of its 4G infrastructure to support 5G. As such, 4G would be more limited in that area, and could result in a spottier connection. This is very much location based and not always the norm, but it's worth noting, nonetheless.
Why you can trust Reviews.org
Expertise: Our editorial team has years of experience covering technology and the Australian telco market. We dig into the minutiae of phone plans, terms and conditions and simplify it for you.
Independence: We review phone plans on their merits, not based on whether or not we make money from them. You can always trust that if we recommend a plan, it's because it's great value for money, regardless of our commercial relationships with suppliers.
Data-driven: Our comparison engine looks at more than a hundred plans from 30 providers to size them up on features such as data, price and inclusions. The power of our comparison engine and the breadth of our database means you get more choices and more ways to compare.
How we choose the best cheap mobile plans
When it comes to cheap phone plans, price is the most important variable. If you're a budget-conscious consumer looking at this page for guidance, we want our recommendations to best meet your needs. For that reason, we consider cheap plans to be anything less than $40/month, in terms of ongoing cost after any potential intro discount has ended.
Beyond price, the other big factors we consider are network coverage and monthly data per dollar. Given the overlap between Australia's major mobile networks, we typically privilege the latter when it comes to picking out the best cheap mobile plans. If you live in an area where you've got decent coverage from Optus, Vodafone and Telstra, we want to be able to point you towards the cheap mobile plan that offers the best bang for buck.
Finally, we also consider whether or not any decent deals are available for a given mobile plan and whether or not that provider includes any notable extras (like international calls) or suffers from any shortcomings. Our provider reviews and our sister site WhistleOut are valuable resources for us here.
Cheap mobile plan FAQs
Do cheap mobile plans have worse coverage?
Cheaper mobile plans are not directly penalised when it comes to coverage, but there can be some differences. For the most part, the cheapest plans from MVNOs are limited to 4G at 100Mbps, while more expensive plans have 5G (often limited to 150Mbps or 250Mbps).
But in terms of actual coverage, the only difference is for Telstra MVNOs. These providers operate over the Telstra 'Wholesale' network, which is almost identical to the full network for 4G, but has a much smaller 5G footprint.
Are there any cheap plans with unlimited everything?
If you want unlimited talk, text, and data for a cheap price, you've got one main option: Felix Mobile. Felix Mobile has a single plan with all of the above for $35 per month.
There is one catch, however. Speeds are capped to 20Mbps. 20Mbps is still fast enough for most online activities, including streaming video, but it may be a bit slow when you're downloading apps.
Are there cheap long-expiry plans?
Long-expiry mobile plans can work out to be cheaper in the long run compared to a month-to-month plan, but you'll need to pay a lot more upfront. The upshot is you can take care of your mobile bill in one single payment. The downside is you might burn through your data months ahead of schedule, if you're not careful.
What is Telstra's cheapest mobile phone plan?
Telstra's cheapest postpaid plan is the $65 Basic Upfront Mobile plan. This plan includes 50GB of monthly data, standard talk & text, unlimited SMS to international numbers, 30 minutes of international calls and 5G connectivity with uncapped download speeds
If you're looking for a cheap mobile plan by Telstra but prefer prepaid, you'll want to look for the 3GB SIM Starter Kit. This plan comes with 3GB of data, standard talk & text, 100 international texts and 7-day expiry.
What is the cheapest mobile network?
Although the shape of the market changes from week to week, the mobile network with the cheapest mobile plans is usually Vodafone. Providers on the Optus network aren't far off though. Telstra's network also has some pretty cheap plans, but often with less data than providers on the other two.
How much mobile data do you need?
As a rule, it's usually better and cheaper to have too much data than not enough. Knowledge is power when it comes to choosing the right mobile plan, so it may be worth using an app like My Data Manager to start tracking how much of your monthly data you use. Once you have a better idea of how much data you actually need, finding a plan that offers that amount at the lowest possible price becomes significantly easier.
How hard is it to change mobile providers?
Changing mobile providers is usually easy and quick. There are legal requirements in place to make the process as painless as possible. Not only do you get to keep your number, your new and old provider handle transferring it across and have a time limit on how long it can take. And you should have little-to-no time during which you have no active phone service at all.
If you're not on a contract, it's usually totally free to make the switch. Providers have a right to charge an $8 porting fee, though we're not aware of any that actually do.
What kind of customer support experience do you expect?
It's hard to gauge customer support, particularly with smaller brands. There are only a few publicly available surveys in Australia that measure this, and they can usually only gather data on big names because smaller brands have so few customers in comparison. But if you're curious, we'd recommend the bi-ennial Telco Satisfaction Survey from CHOICE as one source of data.
Your best option is often to look up online reviews to see if there are any trends you can spot – negative or positive experiences that follow a theme. This can sometimes be an indicator of whether a provider has systemic issues with customer service.
You can also check the annual report from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman to see if the number of complaints a provider received increased or decreased vs. the previous report.
Can I get a cheap SIM card in Australia?
Fewer and fewer providers in Australia actually charge you for the SIM card itself. At most, you can expect to pay $1 to $10 for a prepaid SIM card but that typically includes a small amount of calls, text and data as well.
On the other hand, no provider in Australia charges an upfront cost for a postpaid SIM card. You simply sign up to a month-to-month plan and the SIM card will be delivered to your door in a matter of days. After that, you’ll recieve your first bill one month after you’ve signed up but you won’t pay anything for the SIM card itself.
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